How do you fix the third brake light? What causes the problem. Checked out the fuses, and fuse box under hood, no signs. Anyone have any ideas?

 

The second thing you should check (after the fuse) is the wire. My 3rd brake light blew, and this is what it was.

1. Weigh down the brake pedal. I found a sledge hammer is perfect for this -- or get another person to sit there and press it for you.
2. Open the hatch, and you'll see the wire coming from just beneath the window hinge. Pull it a little, move it around. If the light comes on, then you know what the problem is: replace the wire.
3. If jiggling the wire doesn't make the light turn on, then replace the bulb.
4. If you're still not convinced you need to replace the bulb, then disconnect it, and connect an external power source (a small battery should be fine). If it still doesn't work, then this should be confirmation that the bulb is bad.

I'd guess that the wire causes the majority of 3rd brake light problems. After opening and shutting the hatch so many times, the wire gets frayed internally.

 

What year? Is it an led strip or a single bulb? Mine has the led strip and it didn't work for the longest time. I finally got around to looking at it and it had a burned up resistor on the circuit board that holds the leds. I called the dealership to price a new one...$$$. Luckily, a friend at the Syclone/Typhoon bb had a few extra so he sent me one for free!

 

Mine was a '96, and it also had the LED strip, though the problem was in the wire. Glad to know you got it taken care of!

 

thanks for ur help it fixed my 3rd break light in mins. thanks again

 

No problem!

 

Sorry to bring back an old post, but since I don't have 10 posts yet, I can't PM. I was wondering if you guys new what the value of the resistor that burnt up on the led circuit board strip for the 3rd brake light. Mine is burnt up, and I can't read the value.

Thank you,
Adam

 

My 3rd brake light is out. I changed to new led strip and still
Doesn't work. I checked wiring and it looks fine. Any other thoughts?

 

check to see if the diode (not resistor) has continuity across the back. See this website for the diagram for a diode Diodes. On the back of the LED board you should see this symbol. Continuity in one direction but not in the other is okay since the voltmeter sends a nominal voltage. If no continuity in both directions the diode is bad.

With moisture in the light they will degrade. An LED requires a diode (sort of electrical check valve). A soldered in a new one from Radioshack (less than $3) two years ago and mine has been fine since then.